Faith Discovered Through a Bible
Born on November 27, 1934, in Ingeniero Maschwitz near Buenos Aires, Argentina, Luis Palau grew up in a family where faith was discovered through a transformative encounter. His parents, Luis Palau Sr. and Matilde Balfour de Palau, embraced Christianity after receiving a Bible from Edward Rogers, a British oil executive. However, after his father's death when Luis was just ten years old, he faced a challenging period.
A Childhood Commitment
At the age of 12, Luis became a follower of Jesus Christ at a summer camp. He later reflected, "You don't have to have a jaw-dropping story of how you received Jesus. It just must be yours." Despite this early commitment, Luis drifted away from his faith as a teenager, experiencing a period he described as an "empty moment." He planned to join friends at Carnival, which he sensed would lead him away from his values.
A Prayer on the Eve of Carnival
On the eve of Carnival, Luis felt compelled to pray, despite having neglected prayer for months. He pleaded, "Lord, if you get me out of this, I will break with the world, and I will serve you." The next morning, he awoke with a swollen mouth, which he saw as a divine intervention—a sign that his prayer was answered.
A Global Voice for Jesus
This turning point led Luis to renew his commitment. He moved to Córdoba, experienced significant spiritual growth, and began preaching on street corners. Inspired by hearing Billy Graham on the radio, he aspired to become an evangelist. He moved to the United States, studied at Multnomah School of the Bible, and eventually served as a Spanish translator for Graham himself.
Luis Palau's ministry flourished globally, reaching over 1 billion people across 80 countries through campaigns and media. He shared, "I have no regret in pouring out my years, from the time I was a boy, for the sake of the Good News." Until his passing in 2021, Luis remained a passionate voice for Jesus, demonstrating how one prayerful moment can change the course of a life.
